Centrifugal extractor



Aprill 22 1924. 1,491,133

A. R. CURTIS CENTR IFUGAL EXTRACIOR Filed Nov. 18, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,F y. ,7. W5

Aprifi 22 1924. r

A. R. CURTIS CENTRIFUGAL EXTBACTOR Filed Nov. 18, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A. R. CURTIS CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR Filed Nov. 18, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet April 22 1924.

' A. R. CURTIS CENTRIFUGAL EXTRAGTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 18, .1918

Patented Apr. 22, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

An'rnua n. ounrxs, or CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CENTRIFUGAL EXTRAGTOR.

Application filed November 18, 1918. Serial No. 262,966.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ARTHUR R. CURTIS,

a a citizen of the United States, residing at i Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certaln new and useful Improvement in Centrifugal Extractors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a centrifugal machine or separator adapted articularly for drying clothes or other fa rics which have been washed. The separator has great utility for household use, and was designed as a part of a combined washer and extractor, the general arrangement and construc tion of which constitutes the subject matter of a companion application filed by me of even date herewith Serial No. 262,963.

7 However, the invention may be utilized to advantage with other types of separators than those employed for drying clothes or fabrics and may be used independently of the washer.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide certain safety devices which render the operation of a machine of this character safe, and which, specifically, prevent the extractor being started in operation when the lid of the extractor curb is open, and which prevent the opening of the lid after the extractor is in operation.

A further object is to provide in association with a motor driven extractor, a circuit breaker which will open the motor circuit when the current passing therethrough reaches a predetermined value, and to provide mechanical connection or interlock between the circuit breaker and the controlling member of the extractor, such that when the circuit breaker has been autov matically opened, it will be impossible to again close it unless the controlling member is in neutral or off position.

Still further objects are to provide certain details of construction, particularly at the top of the curb, which not only accommodate some features'of the safety devices referred to, but provide a strong and satisfactory construction without necessity for fastening bolts or similar devices projecting up through the top of the curb, and which permit ready assemblage or disassemblage of the parts composing the top of the curb.

The invention may be briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view of an extractor embodying my invention, showing also a part of the associated washer which may or may not (as desired) be made a part of the extractor; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is an elevation looking toward the left of Fig. l' Fig. 4 is a partial top plan view with parts in section, showing particularly the latching mechanism for the cover, a portion of the decking being broken away to show certain parts of the safety devices; Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical, sectional view of the top 'portion of the ex tractor showing the transverse water rails which accommodate the fastening and latching parts; Fig. 6 is a side view of a portion of the drive mechanism for the extractor with a portion of the mechanism co-operating therewith to prevent the opening of the extractor lid when the extractor is in operation; Fig. 7 is a sectional plan View of a part of the same; Fig. 8 is a side view, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6, which prevents the opening of the extractor lid when the extractor is in operation; Fig. 9 is a view of the circuit breaker which is interlocked with the controlling handle of the extractor, the circuit breaker casing being in section; Fig. 10 is a front view of the circuit breaker showing the interlocking rod which extends to the controlling lever of the extractor; and Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the lid open and the upper part of the machine in section.

Referring" now to the drawings, 10 represents a cylindrical extractor curb which is supported in a suitable frame-work 11, the extractor being located, in this case, at one end of a washer, a portion of the tub 12, of which is shown, which tub is preferably supported in the same frame-work which supports the extractor curb. The curb is supported in the frame by a circular strap which is clamped about the top portion of the curb and is attached to the upper side rails 11 ofvv the frame as more fully set forth in my companion application already referred to.

The curb 10 encloses a cylindrical. perforated basket 13, which is supported by a closed in a hood*18.

The driving mechanism for the extractor while per se constituting the subject matter of a companion application filed by me of even date herewith Serial No. 262,965, is utilized asa part of the mechanism for preventing the opening of the extractor lid while the extractor is in operation. It should be noted therefore, that the driving mechanism for the extractor includes two friction wheels, one, 19, surrounding the lower part of the extractor shaft and connected thereto to drive the same, this wheel rotating about a fixed vertical axis, and the second, designated 20, mounted directly on one end of the motor shaft and adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the wheel 19 by a controlling lever 21, this lever being pivoted at the bottom of the machine, and at its upper end having sliding engagement with the inner face of the side rail '11, a slot or passageway being provided between the inner face of the rail 11* and the curb 10 adjacent the connection of the rail 11 thereto for a limited lateral movement of the upper free end of the lever 21, as will be subsequently explained.

Taking up now the constructionat the top of the extractor, it will be observed by reference to the drawings, that the top of the curb is composed of three principal parts, namely, arfix'ed outer ring 23, 9. nor-- i is hinged at 26 to the removable ring 24. The

outer part of the fixed ring 23 which is formed of sheet metal is folded around the cylindrical part of the curb 10 and is secured rthereto by soldering or otherwise. This ring is virtually continuous with a decking 27 which extends between the curb of the extractor and the tub 12 of the washer, and

ed inward, and receives the outwardly flanged part of aflange' ring 24 (see Fig.

5) whichis soldered or otherwise secured to the ring 24, and just inside of this flange ring 24 there is-soldered a stiffening ring 24". The inner, marginal part of the ring 3: is rolled about a stiffening wire or ring The hinged cover 25, in this instance, is composed of an outer or marginal portion of sheet metal rolled about a stiffening ring 25 and enclosing the main portion or body of the lid consisting preferably of stiff. wire mesh. If desired, the lid may be formed of a continuous piece of perforated sheet metal, instead of the composite lid 'of the outer sheet metal portion and the wire mesh.

The reinforcing rings about which the sheet metal parts are rolled, give these cover members considerable stiffness, and the use of the stiifening ring 24 inside of the downturned flange 24 of the removable ring 24 is of considerable importance in the stifiening and strengthening of a part which would otherwise be flimsy and easily bent, and, in fact, it is particularly useful in the present construction for it renders possible in a commercial or practical sense, the fastening of the removable ring 24 to the fixed ring 23 at the two diametrically opposite joints since it holds the ring 24 rigidly down on the ring 23 between the two opposite .points.

Ordinarily the ring 24 of the curb top is left in place, the hinged lid 25 being opened and closed when articles are to be applied to or removed from the basket 13 of the ex tractor, and the ring 24 is removed only when it is desired to remove the basket from the curb, the diameter of the basket being slightly less than the outer diameter of the ring 24.

It will be observed that along the longitudinal margins of the decking'27, water rails 28 are provided, these rails extending from the tub inwardly to substantially diametrically opposite points on opposite sides of the curb, and from these points there extend transversely inward, water rails 29 and 30, the rail 30 being somewhat wider than the rail 29. The purpose of these rails is primarily to prevent the water 7 dripping onto the floor as the articles are transferred from the tub to the extractor, but the transverse rails 29 and 30 are utilized also to receive devices which hold the removable ring 24 to the fixed outer ring 23 and part of which serve as a latch for the lid andas one element of one of the safety features, as will be seen by reference to Figs. 5 and 6. The sheet metal decking 27 has edge moldings 27 a as shown in Fig.5 atta hed to the horizontal flanges of the upper side rails 11 of the frame.

As shown in Fig. 5, the part of the rail 29 over the fixed ring 23, is hollow, and the part over the removable ring 24 is in the form of an upstanding abutment 29, which is just back of the hinge26 of the lid, and is adapted to be utilized as a support for the lid when the latter is swung upward to full open position. The hollow outer part of the rail 29 receives a removable locking pin 31 which extends inward beyond the ring 23 into a notch of the abutment 29, so as to lock the ring 24 at this point to the fixed ring 23 without requiring securing bolts which heretofore have been utilized.

'The diametrically opposite transverse rail 30 is likewise formed in two parts, the outer part being attached to the fixed ring 23 and the inner part being attached to the removable ring 24. This rail receives two bars including a latching bar 32, whose inner end is adapted to project over the marginal part of the lid, as shown in Fig. 5, so as to latch it in place, the inner end of this bar terminating in a ring 32 or other suitably shaped handhold' which may be easily grasped to withdraw the latch from the lid and permit it to be opened. The lid 25 may be provided with a guard 25" which will normally project upwardly just in front of the latch ring 32 to prevent it being given a blow delivered accidentally or otherwise tending to move the bar to lid disengaging position.

Alongside this latch bar 32 is a second bar 33 having a rounded inner end which projects beyond the inner end of the rail 30, but does not overlap the margin of the lid. This bar is so shaped and disposed that when the lid is being closed it engages the forward end of the bar and pushes it outward against the tension of a spring 34 at the outer end of the bar 33, and when the lid is being opened the bar is pressed forwardly by the spring'to a position such that its inner end projects beyond the normal outer margin of the lid. The outer part of this bar 33 has a lateral extension 33" which overlies the laterally extending flange of the side rails 11 within the edge molding 27* of the decking so that when the lid is open and when the bar 33 is therefore in its innermost position, 'the extension 33 lies in the path of movement of the controlling lever 21, which as before stated, is moved laterally to start or stop the extractor. The parts are so disposed that when the lid is closed and the bar 33 with its lateral extension 33 is' in the position shown in Fig. 4, the hand lever 21, the upper end of which is shown in Fig. 4, may be moved laterally inward toward the rail 30 from neutral or off position to running or on position, or to a position to cause the friction wheel 20 to be moved into engagement with .the friction wheels. 19, but when the lid is open and the bar 33 is in its innermost position, the lateral extension 33 of the bar 33 will project into the path of movement of the upper end of the lever 21 and will then prevent the lateral movement of the controlling lever 21, to running or on position. It might be stated at this point. that when the controlling'lever is in neutral position, shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the upper end of the lever is held behind a shoulder 35 fixed to the inner side of the side rail 11 in the slot or passageway in which the upper end of the lever moves, and to start the extractor, this lever is moved inwardly slightly so that it can pass the shoulder 35 and then is moved laterally toward the rail 30 as just stated, but when it is disengaged from behind the shoulder 35, it is pulled toward running posit-ion by a spring 36 which is shown in Fig. 6, and which is connected to an arm attached to a rock shaft 37 to which the hand lever 21 is attached.

Thus it will be seen that the bar 33 with its lateral extension 33, located as described with reference to the lid and the operating lever, constitutes a safety device which prevents the machine being started as long as the lid is open, for the lateral extension 33 of this bar prevents lateral movement of the operating lever from neutral position unless {his bar is forced back by the closing of the Not only does the bar 32 function as a latch to normally hold the lid: closed, but it prevents the opening of the lid while the. machine is in operation, and the mechanism by which this is accomplished will now be described. It will be observed by reference to Fig. 5, that the outer end of the latch bar 32 is connected to a pivoted bell crank 38, and that there is likewise pivoted to this member 38 a rod 39 which extends downward and inward from. the top of the extractor to a point beneath the base 15 on which the extractor shaft and operating motor are mounted. At its lower end this rod 39 is connected to a lever 40, pivoted to swing up and down in a casting 41 secured to the under side of the base plate 15. Likewise pivoted in this casting, but tol swing about a vertical axis is a member 42, normally held by a light spring 43 in the position shown in Fig. 6. This pivoted member 42 at its upper end carries a, friction piece 42* which is beneath and just clears the lower surface of, the friction wheel 19. The pivoted member 42 likewise has a laterally projecting finger 42 against which the lever 40 is held by a coil spring 44, and it has also a finger 42 which is normally to one side'of the lever 40, as shown in Fig. 6, These parts are so .disposed that when the extractor shaft and friction wheel 19 are stationary, they will not interfere with the outward movement of the-latch bar 32 sufficient to disengage the lid and allow the lid 25 to be elevated, but when the extractor. is in operation, if the operator should attempt to move the latch bar outward to releasing position, the slightest outward movement of the bar 32 and the consequent upward movement of the rod 39 will, through the action of the intermediate spring 44, lift the friction member 42*- a ainst the bottom of the rotating friction wdxesl 19, and this will instantly swing the member 42 laterally in the direction that the friction wheel is rotating, swinging the finger 42 directly over the outer end of the lever 40, thus positively locking the latch: bar 32 against movement. As before stated, when the extractor shaft and friction wheel 19 are stationary, this mechanism does not prevent the movement of the latch bar to lid releasing position for then the lever 40 can be moved upward against the tension of spring 44, but it is only when the wheel 19 is in rotation that the frictional eflect is obtained, causing the swinging of the part 42 of member 42 to locking position over the lever 40. s

It will be seen therefore, that this mechanism constitutes a second safety device which prevents the lid of the extractor being openedwhile the extractor is in operation. This feature employed in conjunction with that previously described which prevents. the starting of the extractor while the lid is open, affords ample protection against possible injury to the operator, who might through carelessness or ignorance, attempt either to start the machine with the lid open, or to open the machine while it is inoperation.

As before stated, the pin 31 which extends through th outer part of rail 29 into the abutment 29 as shown in Fig. 5, holds the removable ring at this point to the fixed outer ring. Likewise the diametrically opposite bars 32 and 33 which extendthrough the rail 30, perform a similar function, and as long as the pin 31 and the bars 32 and 33 are in normal position, the removable ring 24 which carries the lid is firmlv held to the outer fixed ring. To remove the ring 24 it is only necessary to slip outward the holding pin 31, and to remove the bars 32 and 33, the bar 32 beingfirst disconnected from the bell-crank 38.

To avoid danger of overloading the motor which drives the extractor, and to eliminate possibility of starting th motor when the drive wh-els of the shaft driving mechanism are in engagement, I provide the extractor with an automatic circuit breaker which automatically opens the circuit when the current passing through the motor reaches a predetermined value, and I arrange an interlock between the movable member of the circuit breaker and the operating lever 21 which controls the engagement and disengagement of the driving wheels. This circuit breaker, as shown in Fig. 1, is supported by the frame-work ten 53, wall of the casing 45.

just beneath the decking 27, and it includes a casing 45 containing the circuit breaker elements, which as shown in Fig. 9 include a switch member 46 adapted to be shifted against the tension of a spring 47 into engagement with a stationary contact 48,. this contact and the movable switch member bein connected by conductors 49 and 50 to t e motor circuit to which current is supplied by conductors of any suitable source of current, such as a lighting circuit. In this'instance the circuit breaker is closed by a manually controlled member here shown as a plunger or push button 51 extending-through the front wall of the casin 45, and the switch is normally held close by a bell crank latch 52, which may be tripped by a second plunger or push butwhichextends through the front The latch 52 is tripped automatically on the occurrence of a predetermined current overload, or when the current in the motor circuit reaches a predetermined value, by a solenoid 54, including a coil in circuit with the contacts and containing a plunger, which as here shown, is beneath the latch 52, and so arranged that when elevated, due to the current in the solenoid coil reaching a predetermined value, it will strike and trip the latch and allow the circuit breaker to be opened by the spring 47.

The interlock previously mentioned, be-

tween the circuit breaker and the controlling lever 21, is effected in this instance, through the medium of a bar 55, which, as shown in Fig. 1, is pivotally connected to the upper part of the lever 21 and extends laterally into the circuit breaker casing 45 above the plunger 51.

This bar 55 is provided to prevent closure ofthe circuit breaker when the lever 21 is in running position, and though the specific details by which this can be accomplished may assume different forms, I provide in this case near the inner end of the plunger 51, a notch 56, which is about the width of that portion of the bar 55 extending into the circuit breaker casing, this notch being so disposed that when the circuit breaker is closed the notch stands behind the bar 55, and when the circuit breaker is opened, the notch is brought into alignment with the bar 55 so that it may drop into it. Additionally I provide on the bar a notch 57 which is so disposui that it comes opposite the plunger 51 when the lever 21 is in neutral or on position.

The parts are so arranged that when the lever 21 is in neutral or off position, the circuit breaker can be closed by pushing in the plunger 51, this being possible because of the position of the notch 57 in the rod 55, which notch prevents the interlocking action, but if the circuit breaker loo is open when the machine is in operation, or when the lever is in running position, the breaker cannot be closed while the lever remains in running position because the bar by dropping into the notch 56 of the plunger 51 prevents this plunger being pushed inward to closing position and the breaker can only be closed when the lever 21 is shifted to neutral or off position, in which event the notch 57 is brought into registration with the plunger, allowing the plunger to be pressed inward.

It will be seen therefore, that I have provided an extractor having the desirable features or advantages enumerated at the beginning of the specification, and while I have shown one embodiment of my invention, other ways of carrying out my invention may occur to one skilled in the art, and I therefore aim in my claims to cover all modifications which do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope of my invention in its broadest aspects.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In an extractor, a curb having a lid, a basket adapted to be rotated in the curb, a shaft for rotating the basket, means for driving the shaft, a movable controlling member for the driving means, locking means separate from the lid and adapted to be engaged and shifted by said lid to inoperative position when the lid is closed, and means operable to shift said locking means to a position for holding the controlling member against movement to start the shaft when said lid is moved out of engagement with said locking means.

2. In an extractor, a curb having a lid, a basket adapted to be rotated in the curb, a shaft for rotating the basket, driving means for the shaft, a controlling member adapted to be shifted from and to neutral position to start and stop the operation of the driving means, and means for preventing the shifting of said controlling member from neutral position when the lid is open, said means comprising a device separate from the lid and positioned in the path of movement of said controlling member when the lid is out of contact therewith and adapted to be engaged by the lid in portion in the path of movement of the controlling member when the lid is open,'said bar having one end adjacent a free edge of the lid so as to be engaged thereby when the lid is closed, and to be. shifted to a position such that said controlling member may be moved to running position.

4. In an extractor, a curb having a lid, a basket adapted to be rotated in the curb, driving means for rotating said basket, a movable controlling member for the driving means, and a spring pressed lock for said controlling member normally held by its spring in the path of movement of said controlling member and adapted to prevent the movement of said member to running position, said lock having a part engageable with the lid in the final closing movement thereof for shifting the same out of the ath of movement of said controlling mem- 5. In an extractor, a fixed curb having an opening in the top thereof and a lid for closing the opening, a basket adapted to be rotated in the curb, a shaft for rotating the basket, means for driving the shaft, a movable controlling member for the driving means extending alongside the curb, locking means for said controlling member carried by the curb and having a part adjacent the opening which is movable toward and from the opening and a part adapted to be moved into the path of movement of the controlling member to prevent operation thereof in a direction to cause operation of the basket,,a spring for normally holding said locking means in locking position, and means on the lid engageable with said part of the locking means adjacent the opening only when the lid is closed and adapted to shift said locking means in opposition to the spring to a position to prevent the controlling member from being moved in a direction to cause operation of the basket, said locking means being released upon opening the lid to permit said spring to shift the same to lever locking position.

6. In an extractor, a curb having a lid, means for locking the lid in closed position, a basket adapted to be rotated in the curb, a motor for driving the basket, means for starting and stopping the motor, means for connecting and disconnecting the motor and basket, means controlled by the last mentioned means for preventing the operation of the motor starting means except when the motor and basket are disconnected, and means controlled by the lid for preventing the connection of the motor to the basket to drive the same when the lid is open.

7. In an extractor, a curb having a lid, a basket rotatably mounted in the curb, a motor for driving the basket, means for starting and stopping the motor, means for connecting and disconnecting the motor and basket, means controlled by the last mentioned means for preventing the operation of the motor starting means except when the motor and basket are disconnected, means controlled by the lid for preventing the connection of the motor to the basket to drive the same when the lid is open, means for locking the lid in closed position, and means for preventing the release of said locking means during rotation of the basket.

8. In an extractor a fixed curb having a lid, a basket rotatably mounted in the curb, an electric motor for driving the basket, a switch controlling the operation of the motor, driving means connecting the motor and basket including a clutch for connecting or disconnecting the motor and basket, a ever for actuating the clutch positioned alongside the curb, means operated bv said lever for preventing operation of the switch to start the motor except when the clutch is disengaged, a lever locking means carried by the curb havirfg a portion adapted to be positioned in the path of movement of the lever to prevent movement thereof to engage the clutch and a portion adjacent the opening in the curb, yielding means for normally holding the lever locking means in lever locking position, and means on the lid adapted when said lid is closed to engage with the part of the lever locking means adjacent the opening to shift said lever locking means to inoperative position to permit said clutch lever to be actuated to engage the clutch.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

ARTHUR R. CURTIS. 

